Reading
Coverage highlights foodservice and hospitality activity in this key South East town, with reporting focused on the Oracle Riverside, Broad Street, Caversham, and Station Hill areas. Topics include restaurant and bar openings, commuter-led weekday trade, independent operator growth, and regional investment linked to Reading’s tech and business hub status. Insight is geared toward operators monitoring footfall dynamics, high street recovery, and scalable dining formats in affluent commuter markets.
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Dec- 2025 -9 DecemberFood and Drink
XP Factory HY revenues rise 13% to £28m despite ‘subdued’ market
XP Factory has reported that group revenues rose 13.1% to £28.2m for the 26-week period ended 28 September, citing resilient trading across its Escape Hunt and Boom Battle Bar brands despite a weaker leisure market. During the period, Escape Hunt owner-operated revenues increased to £7.3m, while Boom owner-operated revenues reached…
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Nov- 2025 -24 NovemberBusiness
Hospitality leaders’ confidence hits five-year low ahead of Budget
Hospitality leaders’ confidence in their business outlook has fallen to its lowest level in five years as rising costs and weaker consumer spending place fresh strain on pubs, bars and restaurants, according to CGA by NIQ and Sona. The latest Business Confidence Survey found that just 26% of leaders feel…
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Oct- 2025 -30 OctoberRestaurants
Masakali opens first London restaurant following Reading success
Masakali, the Indian restaurant brand founded in Reading, has opened its first London site at 48 Stanhope Street, NW1. The new restaurant builds on the success of Masakali’s flagship venue on Caversham Road in Reading, which has become known for “blending classic regional recipes with contemporary presentation”. The London menu…
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14 OctoberFeatures
How international students are influencing the UK’s food scene
International students and diaspora communities are increasingly influencing the UK’s hospitality sector. Their appetite for genuine flavours and cultural familiarity is creating new opportunities for businesses willing to embrace global cuisines, ultimately shaping menus, delivery app offerings, and high street food trends nationwide. From bubble tea and hotpot to Korean…
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Aug- 2025 -14 AugustFood and Drink
XP Factory revenues bounce back following difficult Q1 trading
Experiential hospitality operator, XP Factory, has seen owner-operated revenues rise 12% year-on-year for the 19-week period to 10 August with the support of new openings and improving consumer demand. The update follows a difficult start to the financial year, with like-for-like said to be returning to growth across both its…
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13 AugustRestaurants
Loungers opens 300th site in Hampshire
Loungers has opened its 300th site with the launch of Antico Lounge in Alton, East Hampshire. Founded in Bristol in 2002 by Alex Reilley, Jake Bishop and Dave Reid, the café/bar group operates all day café/bar/restaurants under the Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside brands. It has opened 21 new Lounges…
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Jul- 2025 -31 JulyRestaurants
Zambrero UK launches franchise recruitment programme
Mexican-inspired QSR franchise Zambrero has announced the launch of a franchise recruitment programme, as it plans to open 100 restaurants in the UK by 2030. The company is already on its way to achieving its target, having recently signed up its first three franchise partners who will open new sites…
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Jun- 2025 -6 JunePubs and Bars
Spinners secures £4m investment for expansion
Competitive socialising operator Spinners has announced that it has secured an investment of £4m from Gresham House Ventures. The funding from Gresham House Ventures will be used to expand the business’s footprint to new sites around the UK. It will also support improved data capture to better understand customer behaviour…
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May- 2025 -7 MayTrade Associations
UKH rolls out hospitality training programmes across England
UKHospitality, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), has announced the launch of hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) in 26 areas across England. The new programme trains jobseekers with hospitality skills in a working environment and provides them with both work experience and a guaranteed interview…
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Nov- 2024 -12 NovemberCafes and Coffee Shops
Paul UK unveils new franchise partner
French bakery and café chain Paul UK has announced Zaf Holdings Limited (ZHL) as its newest franchise partner in the UK. ZHL will open 10 stores over the next five years, bringing the Paul brand to key locations in the Southeast of England. The first store is targeted to open…
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